Mottainai Fair

These are the pictures showing young volunteers at the Mottainai Fair at Hanoi, Vietnam. Mottainai means do not waste in Japanese. The fun-filled Fair featuring stalls managed by the youth is an environmental and education awareness campaign to promote 3R practice. It is an exchange and meeting place for used goods. It is interesting as public is bringing in their unwanted, but usable items such as clothes, hand bags and household ware for exchange. The collected items will then display in different stalls. Coupon equivalent with the value of the items is given instead of cash enabling the public to search for other wanted items at the stalls. Apart from that, various activities such as talent contest, singing, dancing, art competition and workshops are conducted. The programme is held as part of the 3R-Hanoi Pilot Project initiated by JICA and URENCO.

The Fair is a success due to its location nearby community centre with children activities, active participation of the stakeholders especially the youth, strong support from the resource person, variety of entertainment programmes and, of course innovation. Personally, i think the involvement of youth with much energy and enthusiasm makes the 3R Fair a highly success venture.